All Booked Up

Written on 06/09/2026
Ann Byle

Veteran fiction writer Melody Carlson offers a delightful story readers will love. First of all, protagonist Rita Owen is an older woman, which is nice to see when it comes to life and romance. Second, there are so many books!

Rita, who doesn’t want to give up her home and, more importantly, her library, decides to take in lodgers to make ends meet. The ensuing personality quirks, drama, and potential romance with a tenant’s older brother make for a bit of craziness, but using classic books to help those around her begins to calm everyone. People change, forgiveness is given, and life for Rita and her housemates settles down in a lovely ending.

This is clean fiction with a Christian worldview that will make a great addition to many summer reading lists. (Revell)